Real Weddings from An Essex Wedding

See how other local couples celebrated their big day with inspirational weddings and bridal stories from Real Weddings features in An Essex Wedding.

Real Weddings: Falling For You

Falling For You

Alex and Hollie met at university. From friendship more blossomed and the pair were inseparable. On a summer's walk along Maldon Promenade, Alex popped the question and of course, Hollie said yes! On Friday 13th October 2023, Hollie and Alexander Martin married at Layer Marney Tower. Here, Hollie tells us more about their day..

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Real Weddings: You Rock My World

You Rock My World

The couple describe their meeting as 'a swipe right romance', meeting on Bumble some six years ago. Since then, they've fallen in love over a shared obsession of listening to vinyl, going to gigs and learning new instruments. Megan tells us, "Everyone was surprised when we got engaged as we're not a couple based on tradition. However, it was the easiest yes in the world. Ollie took me to the pub where we first met, and as we walked up to it, he asked where I had stood whilst I waited for him. As I pointed out the spot, he took the ring out of his pocket, went down on one knee and held out the most perfect engagement ring; a diamond set between two skulls. That evening we did exactly what we did on our first date, visited every pub again and got a donner kebab on the way home, perfect!"

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Real Weddings: So In Love

So In Love

Paige and Joel met in 2015 through mutual friends on an unplanned night out. Following a summer getting to know each other attending festivals and going on holidays, the couple knew things were getting serious. Soon enough Paige and Joel became homeowners and soon the pitter patter paws of a puppy came along, Koba!

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Real Weddings: Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After

They say everything happens for a reason and it seems the stars aligned for Jo and Nick. Nick moved back to the village that he grew up in to take over the running of the local village pub with his cousin Adam - and on that opening night is when Nick clapped eyes on Jo! They had met their match. Jo tells us, "Nick proposed to me in Budapest at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths on the 5th December 2019." A little later than expected due to lockdown, on 6th October 2023, the day finally came and Jo and Nick tied the knot at Houchins.

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Real Weddings: Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not

DDanny and Paige met the modern way, via Tinder. Love blossomed, as Paige tells us. "Our proposal was just perfect. In 2021, shortly after the birth of our son, Freddie, my now husband Danny booked us a holiday to the Greek island of Santorini. We've always had a boat day on any holiday we've done together, so it was only right that on this trip, Danny booked a boat for the afternoon. However, this wasn't any tourist boat this time. I arrived at the port, and a luxury private yacht was waiting for me with the captain handing us a glass of champagne each. We spent the afternoon jumping into the ocean, sipping wine and nibbling on Greek snacks. At sunset, we were taken to the middle of the ocean, where Danny got down on one knee and presented me with a stunning pear-shaped diamond ring."

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Real Weddings: The Stars Aligned

The Stars Aligned

Lauren and Ed met at Leicester University in 2018. The pair matched on Tinder and everything progressed from there. Ed was studying a four-year course and Lauren was doing a three-year course. However, a last-minute decision to stay on to do a Masters, meant that the two crossed paths. It was certainly meant to be!

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Real Weddings: I choose you

I choose you

Shoshi and Lucy met through work colleagues in London on a night out. Lucy tells us, "Shoshi arrived with a spare ticket to see Roger Waters play in Hyde Park that coming weekend and offered it to our group, a few of us said we wanted to go, Shoshi picked me, and we went together the following Friday. It was an amazing evening!" Romance blossomed and the pair got engaged in Edinbugh – a complete surprise for Lucy.

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Real Weddings: Timeless Elegance

Timeless Elegance

Ollie proposed to Emily in New York City, at the Edge NYC (the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere). The pair first visited the Big Apple back in 2018, their first holiday together, and the first time Ollie told Emily he loved her. Romantically, the proposal was a surprise on Emily's birthday, 28th December 2021.

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Real Weddings: Truly, madly, deeply

Truly, madly, deeply

Isabella and Kane met during freshers week at the University of East Anglia in Norwich and somehow managed to fall in love whilst drinking VKs and listening to Queen on repeat! Following University, the pair moved back to Kane's family home in Essex whilst looking to buy a house of their own. Kane proposed at Tonnage Bridge in the Norfolk Broads. Tonnage Bridge is a beautiful remote location with luxury camping lodges. Isabella describes, "It was so special to return to Norfolk, the place where we met and lived for three years together and start this exciting new chapter. The day after we got engaged, we returned to Norwich city centre and it felt like such a full circle moment."

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Real Weddings: The rest is history

The rest is history

Both working at Norfolk Museums Service, romance blossomed amongst the paintings, taxidermy and archaeological artefacts of their surroundings. David proposed to Alison on a remote beach in North Wales whilst on holiday. The fantastical village of Portmeirion formed the backdrop to the proposal on the deserted beach. Looking back – all the holiday pictures before the proposal David had one hand in his pocket– clutching the precious emerald and diamond engagement ring, just waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question. It was a surprise to Alison – although, being a traditionalist David did of course seek permission to marry Alison from her parents first.

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Real Weddings: An eco wedding

An eco wedding

Olivia and Neel met at university in London, through mutual friends as well as both playing sports for the medical school. Olivia reveals, "After one particular 'sportsnite', we shared a McDonalds on the way home and ever since then we've been inseparable, sharing everything we do. What first attracted me to Neel was his very social personality and easy ability to make me laugh...he's also very handsome which may have helped!"

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Real Weddings: Tinder loving care

Tinder loving care

Emma and Adrian met via the dating site Tinder. "Adrian was the first to message," remembers the bride. "He sent me a poem, which I thought was really sweet, and we met up a week later. There were no awkward silences, and it felt like we'd known each other for years. We also got each other's sense of humour, and our connection felt unbelievably natural."

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Real Weddings: Great scot

Great scot

Louise met Dewar at an Annie Mac gig when they were there with mutual friends.

"My dad owned a motorbike shop, and after chatting we realised Dewar had bought his first bike there before we even knew each other!" says Louise.

"I loved that Dewar was confident, but not cocky, and he made me laugh all the time – plus he's very easy on the eye! He says it was my hairstyle at the time that attracted him to me –which was red and shaved down one side! – as well as my quirky personality."

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Real Weddings: You and me always

You and me always

Melissa and David met in the summer of 2018. "We matched on a dating website," says Melissa. "We clicked right away, and after a few weeks of talking, we decided to meet for our first date. We went to a local restaurant and talked so much that every time our waitress came over, we still hadn't looked at the menu. Neither of us had much experience with online dating, so we weren't really sure what to expect, but the transition from talking online to meeting in person was easy, and we quickly became inseparable."

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Real Weddings: Eyes on the prize

Eyes on the prize

Midwife Natalie met Mark when she became his mentor during a placement at Basildon University Hospital's maternity unit. "Mark was training to be a paramedic, and there was an instant attraction between us," says Natalie. "We saw more and more of each other, and soon began to realise we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together."

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Real Weddings: You're the one that I want

You're the one that I want

Robyn and Kieran met in the very modern world of online dating, after liking each other's images on Tinder! "Despite living within a very close radius, our paths didn't cross until that all-important 'swipe-right'!" laughs Robyn. "We hit it off instantly and enjoyed our first date three weeks later at a local Turkish restaurant. The rest as they say is history, as we became inseparable from then on in." Five years later, the couple were enjoying what Robyn thought was a holiday at her second home in Crete.

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Real Weddings: Pure gold

Pure gold

Lucy and Adam met at a New Year's Eve party of a joint friend, "I was eating a stolen pot of Pringles and Adam asked if the seat next to me was taken and the rest is history!" recalls Lucy. "It definitely wasn't his thick silver chain or his fresh shaven hair that attracted me to him, it was the way he made me laugh constantly and that he was so caring and thoughtful. Adam would say I'm funny, I always have him in stitches (I'd also say I'm very funny!). He also loves my eyes, so maybe that too!"

The big day was set 29th October 2021, with Braxted Park in Witham, Essex providing the ultimate backdrop. Here we find out more about their day...

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